Craft Show #3

This past Thursday night was craft show number three. I must say, I made the least amount of money at this event. It was for one of my mother's clubs. I've shopped at this event in the past and it has always been well attended. This year, there was never a good crowd. One group of women decided to stand around in the room I was in and drink wine.

One of the good points, I thought, was that the table and linens were included for everyone in the fee for the event. When I got there I had a round table. And, it was small. Not a great table. It was impossible for me to display the aprons except for what Manny and Wanda wore. I guess I need to invest in a clothes line or hanger apparatus of some sort. And, children left their trash on my table as well as women leaving their wine glasses on it (I was right next to a door to a hallway to another room with more vendors). Next time I do an event I'll be a little more specific with what I ask for in regards to a table.

To top it off, someone else was selling crayon rolls! Mine were more kid-friendly with the fabric and the elastic as well as the price but still...I didn't think there were supposed to be duplicates. Not cool.

And, I guess the icing on top of this, some of the moms were downright rude. They would turn their back to the table and me and make comments to their friends about the coasters or crayon rolls while I was still behind them. Ummmmmmmmm - hello! Nothing like taking a knife and twisting it. Really, my heart is on my sleeve with items I make and hope they are good enough but it's hard to stand around smiling while people make snide remarks.

Anyway. There was a woman next to me who actually did the best, in my opinion, out of any of the 29 crafters that were there. She had one of a kind, handmade bags (I bought one - it's so cool). She was also thrown for a loop when one of the other crafters stopped by and mentioned she also made bags but she only brought large totes with her. Immediately the other woman went to see if she could find what the other woman was selling as she was also told no one else would be selling purses at the event.

I guess live and learn - and bring extra stuff to sell just in case your cornerstone item is being sold by another vendor.

Two Down, Two To Go

I feel like I haven't posted in forever.

I have finished my first two craft fairs and sold about the same amount of merchandise at each. A few nights before my first craft fair my youngest got sick. That meant four or five days of no sewing getting done at all. I was worried because I wanted to have a greater variety of aprons (more fabrics!) but never got around to it.

I got lots of people looking, lots of people saying "Oh that's so cute." And "I love the camouflage apron." And some that just wanted to know "Do you do alterations?"

Seriously - the first craft fair - I literally had my green bucket of crayon rolls on the floor. They didn't sell well at all. I think mainly because I couldn't display or show them. The aprons I only brought on a whim and I sold five of those. Go Aprons!

Then, yesterday's craft fair, was at my preschool. I shopped at last year's and I can say - this craft fair had more vendors and more shoppers than last year's. I like my table set-up mostly. I think I'll just keep crayon rolls on one side - I kept confusing people. They thought the bucket in front of Manny was full of aprons - not crayon rolls. Also, the candy was good but I'd like a smaller bowl. This was all I could find as I thought about it when I was running out the door - and it did hold my business cards nicely. I purchased small stockings (because I knew I didn't have enough time to make some) and stuck a crayon roll on each one and hung them on my tablecloth - crayon rolls make the perfect stocking stuffer!

I'm happy and a little more confident about what to do / bring into the next craft fair.

And, since I plan on making a few 'big girl' apron's this week I actually will be making / posting my easy cutting fabric on a bias for biding tutorial very soon. Thanks for all the thought and well wishes! Beth

T Minus 20 hours and 25 minutes and counting

until my first craft fair. Really - it's more of an open studio with wine, cheese, crackers and some items for you to peruse and perhaps purchase. The studio is small so I will only be bringing some crayon rolls. I have about 60 made as of now with at least another 40 cut out - ran out of the interfacing - so I'll be sewing those up before Saturday's craft fair.

I also have a bunch of children's adjustable bib aprons ready for Saturday's fair. I am trying to figure out how to fold them to leave the pocket outside and have the apron ties be the bow. I also want to put a cookie cutter in the pocket as well as a recipe for cookies.